Irrigation system

ABSTRACT

An irrigation system provided with a long pipe supplying irrigation water to a field of predetermined area. One end of the pipe is attached to a fixed water supply pipe by rotatable coupling. The irrigation pipe is provided with supporting wheels which are rotatable on fixed bearings provided to the irrigation pipe at spaced points. The wheels are driven from a drive shaft supported by said fixed bearings alongside of the pipe and the shaft is driven by a stationary electric motor supported on the fixed water supply pipe. Selected wheel drives are provided with a combination brake and clutch device that is controlled by the flexing of the irrigation pipe whereby the selected wheels are driven such that damaging bending of the irrigation pipe is prevented as it is carried around said fixed water supply pipe by said wheels.

United States'Patent Sherman 1 Aug. 1,1972

[72] Inventor:

[22] Filed: July 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,138

[52] US. Cl. ..239/l77, 137/344, 239/212 [51] Int. Cl. B051! 3/00 [58]Field of Search ..239/177, 212, 213; 137/344 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,766,996 10/1956 Jacoby ..239/212 X 3,533,55710/1970 Ingram et a] ..239/2l2 3,603,508 9/1971 Ingram et al ..239/2122,730,403 1/1956 Huntley ..239/2l21 3,002,697 10/1961 Jones ..239/212FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 217,436 9/1958 Australia .,.239/l77 [54]IRRIGATION SYSTEM Roger M. Sherman, 3381 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose,Calif. 951 17 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Edwin D. Grant [57] ABSTRACT An irrigation system provided witha long pipe supplying irrigation water to a field of predetermined area.One end of the pipe is attached to a fixed water supply pipe byrotatable coupling. The irrigation pipe is provided with supportingwheels which are rotatable on fixed bearings provided to the irrigationpipe at spaced points. The wheels are driven from a drive shaftsupported by said fixed bearings alongside of the pipe and the shaft isdriven by a stationary electric motor supported on the fixed watersupply pipe. Selected wheel drives are provided with a combination brakeand clutch device that is controlled by the flexing of the irrigationpipe whereby the selected wheels are driven such that damaging bendingof the irrigation pipe is prevented as it is carried around said fixedwater supply pipe-by said wheels.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDM B H973 SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTORROGER M. SHERMAN AT TORNEYS PATENTEDAUB 1 m2 SHEET 2 BF 3 llllllDIRECTION M OTION INVENTOR. ROGER M. SHERMAN 4 h M A H 'FIG'. 4

ATTORNEYS y IRRIGATION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to an irrigation system in which the irrigation pipeis carried around a fixed water supply pipe by a plurality of spacedwheels driven from a common shaft.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigation systemthat is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigationsystem in which the irrigation pipe is carried around a fixed centrallylocated water supply pipe by a plurality of spaced wheels which aredriven through a combined clutch and brake mechanism that is responsiveto the flexing of the irrigation pipe so that the irrigation pipe iscarried around the fixed pipe without damaging bending thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved irrigationsystem employing a long irrigation pipe supported at spaced points bywheels which are driven from a common drive shaft, said drive shaftbeing driven by a stationary electric motor that is supported on thewater supply pipe which is connected to one end of the irrigation pipeand is located at the center of the field being irrigated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedirrigation system employing an elongated irrigation pipe that is made issections, adjacent ones of which are joined by coupling members thatalso include bearings for the hub wheels supporting the pipe at spacedpoints, said bearings also supporting the drive shaft and sheaves whichare provided to the wheel driving mechanisms.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification,claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an irrigation systememploying an elongated irrigation pipe which is carried around a fixedpoint by a plurality of wheels during the irrigation of the field lyingaround the fixed point. The water supply pipe is located at this fixedpoint and it is connected to one end of the irrigation pipe by arotatable coupling. The wheels supporting the irrigation pipe aresupported on bearings that are attached to members which form couplingsbetween adjacent sections of the irrigation pipe and these bearingmembers also support the drive shaft which transmits the power to thedrive mechanisms associated with each of the wheels supporting theirrigation pipe. The drive shaft is coupled to the electric motor whichis supported on the fixed water supply pipe so that it does not turnaround the water supply pipe as the irrigation pipe is carried aroundthe supply pipe by the wheels provided thereto. The wheels are driven atdifferent speeds depending upon the distance of the respective wheelsfrom the fixed supply pipe and a combination clutch and brake mechanismis provided to selected ones of the wheels to control the drive of thesewheels and maintain the irrigation pipe relatively straight so thatexcessive bending of the irrigation pipe is prevented.

Further details and features of this invention will be set forth in thefollowing specification, claims and drawing in which, briefly:

FIG. 1 is a side view of this irrigation system showing the irrigationpipe and wheel drive shaft extending from a fixed point around which theirrigation pipe is carried by a plurality of supporting wheels;

FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the supporting wheels and the drivemechanism provided thereto;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of one of the wheels supporting the irrigationpipe and drive shaft;

FIG. 3a is a detailed view of the clutch and brake mechanism provided tothe wheel shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the wheel bearing attached to the pipecoupling provided between adjacent sections of the irrigation pipe;

FIG. 5 is another view of the bearing shown in FIG. 4 and also showingthe clutch and brake mechanism provided to the drive shaft adjacent toone side of the wheel bearing;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail view partially in section of the electric motor andshaft drive mechanism; and

FIG. 7a is a top view of a portion of the shaft drive mechanism as shownin FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing in detail reference numeral 10designates a long irrigation pipe which is made in sections joinedtogether by coupling means such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Pipe 10 issupported at spaced intervals by the wheels 11b, 11c, 11d and lle suchas the wheel 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Frame members 12 straddle thewheels 11 and are supported thereby. Cables 13 are attached to the topsof the frame members 12 and they are also attached to points of theirrigation pipe located between the frame members 12 so that support isprovided to these points of the irrigation pipe as shown in FIG. I.

The wheel 11 is provided with a plurality of spokes 14, the outer endsof which are attached to the rim of the wheel. The inner ends of thespokes 14 are attached to the circular hub member 15 as shown in FIGS.4, 5 and 6. The wheel hub 15 is made in two semicircular parts whichabut and the abutting ends of these parts are provided with flanges 15awhich are bolted together by bolts 16 after the wheel is positioned onthe circular bearing members 17 and 18. Rearwardly extending stabilizingmembers 12a may be attached to ears extending from the top and bottom ofthe members l7 and 18 as shown in FIG. 2 to hold the frame members erectif desired. A wheel 12b may be provided to members 12a. Before the wheelhub 15 is assembled on the bearing members 17 and 18 the pipe couplingsections 19 and 20 to which therespective bearing members 17 and 18 areattached are joined by welding or the like as indicated at 21.

The outer end of the pipe section 19 is tapered and the irrigation pipesection is pressed thereon as shown in FIG. 4. Arms 22 and 23 areattached to a side of the bearing member 18 and these arms extend beyondthe coupling section 20. The outer ends of the arms 22 and 23 areattached by pivot pins 24 and 25, respectively, to the collar 26 whichis clamped to the irrigation pipe 1012 by bolting the flanges 26athereof together. A flexible hose 27 is provided between the couplingsection 20 and the end of the irrigation pipe 10b so that pipe l0b.mayflex to a limited extent to coupling section 20. Suitable clamping bands28 and 29 are provided around the flexible coupling 27 to clamp it tothe pipe section 20 and the irrigation pipe 10b, respectively. Suitableadhesives such as epoxy resins or the like may be provided to seal thisflexible coupling to the pipes, if desired.

The rims of the wheels 11 are provided with spaced holes 11a as shown inFIG. 3 which are uniformly spaced around the central portion of thewheel rim and which are adapted to receive the teeth of the drive pinion30. Pinion 30 is attached to a shaft 31 that is journalled in thebearings 32 supported by the frame members 12. A relatively large wheel33 is attached to the shaft 31 and this wheel forms a part of a speedreduction arrangement provided betweenshaft 31 and shaft 34 which issupported by bearings 34a along the irrigation pipe 10. Each of thewheels 11b to lle sup porting the irrigation pipe 10 is provided with adrive arrangement such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus each wheel isprovided with a speed reduction drive mechanism although this mechanismwill provide different speed reductions for the different wheels becausethe wheels 11b, 11c, 11d and lle must all rotate at different speedswith the wheel 1 1b rotating at a slower speed than the wheel lle.

The speed reduction arrangement is provided with a small pulley 36 whichis attached to the drive shaft 34 adjacent to the coupling 37. The driveshaft 34 because of its great length is made in sections which arecoupled together by suitable couplings such as indicated at 37 and thesmall pulleys for driving the speed reduction arrangement provided todrive the wheels 11 are preferably positioned adjacent to the couplingsbetween the shaft sections. The small pulley 36 drives the belt 38 whichis provided between it and the large pulley 39 that is attached to theshaft 40. Shaft 40 is supported by a bearing 41 which is supported onthe frame 12 by a suitable bracket. A small pulley 42 is also attachedto the shaft 40 so that when the large pulley 39 is rotated by the belt38 the small pulley 42 is also rotated and drives the belt 43 which isprovided between it and the large pulley 33.

The small pulley 36 is attached to the clutch plate 44 shown in FIG. 3a.The pulley 36 and clutch plate 44 are movable on the drive shaft 34 bythe linkage 45 shown in FIG. that is attached to the yoke 46. Yoke 46slidably engages the narrow neck between the pulley 36 and the clutchplate 44. The linkage 45 is also attached to the bracket 47 that isattached to the collar 26a provided around the pipe b. Thus if a sectionof pipe 10b flexes with respect to the pipe section 10a the bracket 47moves the linkage 45. When the wheel carrying pipe sections 100 and 10bmoves too slowly and these sections flex so that linkage 45 moves thepulley 36 and clutch plate 44 to the right, plate 44 engages thefriction surface 48 that is attached to the clutch 49. Slippage at theclutch is reduced and the wheel carrying the pipe sections 10a and 10bis caused to turn more rapidly since clutch plate 44 engages thefriction surface 48 more firmly. Clutch 49 is attached to the driveshaft 44 by the pin 50. The clutch then drives the pulley 36 and thewheel carrying the pipe sections 10a and 10b is caused to rotate throughthe operation of the speed reduction mechanism described previously.

If, on the other hand, the wheel carrying the pipe sections 10a and 10bis moving too rapidly then these pipe sections flex with respect to eachother and the linkage 45 moves the pulley 36 and clutch plate 44 to theleft thereby causing the clutch plate to slip with respect to thefriction surface 48 or be disengaged therefrom and the left hand side ofthe pulley 36 is caused to engage the friction surface 51 which isattached to the outside of the wheel bearing member 18. The frictionsurface 51 acts as a brake on pulley 36 and slows the wheels carryingthe pipe sections 10a and 10b down. The clutch, brake and flexresponsive mechanism shown in FIG. 5 is provided to all of the wheelsexcept the wheel at the outer end carrying the irrigation pipe so thatthese wheels are driven at the proper speed to carry the irrigation pipearound the center pipe 35 and prevent damaging bending in the irrigationpipe. In certain cases it may be desirable or necessary to provide anextension such as indicated at 36a in FIG. 3a between the pulley 36 andthe brake 51.

The motor 52 that is used for driving the shaft 34 is supported on thethe fixed pipe 35 as shown in FIG. 7 and the electrical connections 52afor supplying electric current to the motor are placed into this pipe.The motor 52 is provided with a reduction gearing 53 of conventionalconstruction and this gearing is equipped with a shaft 54. A smallpulley 55 is attached to the shaft 54 and this pulley drives the belt 56which in turn drives the large pulley 57. Pulley 57 is attached to thesleeve 58 which is rotatably supported by the pipe 35. The small pulley59 is also attached to the sleeve 58 and is driven by the pulley 57.Sleeve 58 bears against the thrust bearing 58a that is attached to pipe35. The pulley 59 is provided with a belt 60 which passes over the idlerpulleys 61 and 62 and drives the pulley 63 which is attached to theshaft 34.

The motor support pipe 35 extends down into the ground through the waterpipe 65 and a closure plate 66 is welded to the top of the pipe 65.Plate 66 is welded to pipe 35 and also to pipe 65 and a thrust washer 67is provided above this plate. Water is fed into pipe 68 from pipe 65through holes 69 which are provided in the water pipe 65 and the waterflows out of the pipe 68 into the irrigation pipe 10 through thecoupling pipe 70 that is attached to the pipe 68 by welding it aroundthe hole 71 formed in the pipe 68. A plate 72 is attached to the top ofthe pipe 68 by welding or the like and the seal enclosing member 73 isattached by welding to the top of the plate 72. The seal 74 ispositioned in a cavity formed in the member 73 and engages the pipe 35to provide a seal therewith. A similar plate and seal (not shown) isattached to the bottom of the pipe 68 except in this case the plate andseal are positioned around the water pipe 65. The irrigation pipe 10 isprovided with a flange 75 which is attached thereto by welding or thelike and this flange is bolted to the flange 76 that is attached bywelding or the like to the coupling pipe 70. Bolts 77 are provided forholding flanges 75 or 76 together. Flange 76 is provided with an uprightportion which supports the bearing 78 attached thereto and bearing 78rotatably supports the shaft 34 adjacent to pulley 63.

While I have shown a preferred form of the invention, it will beapparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification sothat its scope should be limited by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

What I claim is:

1. In an irrigation system, the combination of an irrigation pipecomprising a plurality of pipe sections having apertures for sprayingwater therefrom to irrigate a field, a plurality of wheels supportingsaid irrigation pipe, said wheels being rotatably mounted on bearingsprovided to coupling means between adjacent ones of said pipe sections,means attached to one end of said pipe for coupling said pipe to astationary water supply pipe, a drive shaft positioned along saidirrigation pipe, means supporting said shaft on said irrigation pipe, adriving motor, a member supporting said motor, means coupling said motorto said drive shaft, means coupled to said drive shaft for driving eachof said pipe supporting wheels, and means responsive to the flexing ofsaid irrigation pipe at selected ones of said wheels, said lastmentioned means including means controlling the driving of said selectedwheels to prevent excessive bending of said irrigation pipe.

2. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1,further characterized in that each of said means controlling the drivingof the selected wheels comprises a pulley rotatably mounted on saiddrive shaft and a clutch coupling said pulley to said drive so that saidpulley is driven by said drive shaft when said clutch is engaged, theengaging of said clutch being controlled by said flex responsive means.

3. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 2,further characterized in that said clutch comprises a clutch plateattached to said pulley and a clutch member attached to said drive shaftand friction means positioned between said plate and said clutch memberto cause said clutch to grip when said plate is moved toward said clutchmember.

4. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 3,further characterized in that said flex responsive-means comprises alinkage connecting said clutch plate to said irrigation pipe.

5. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1,further characterized in that said wheel bearings comprise circularsurfaces attached to said pipe coupling means, each of said pipecoupling means having one end thereof connected to a section of saidirrigation pipe by a flexible tubular member.

6. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1,further characterized in that said means controlling the driving of eachof the selected wheels comprises a clutch and a brake, said brake beingactuated by said flex responsive means when the selected wheel is movingthe irrigation pipe too fast and said clutch being actuated by said flexresponsive means to drive the selected wheel faster from said driveshaft when the selected wheel is moving the irrigation pipe too slowly.

7. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1,further characterized in that said means coupling said irrigation pipeto said water supply pipe comprises a rotatable coupling memberencircling said water supply pipe, said stationary member supportingsaid motor above said water supply pipe.

8. In an irrigation system, the combination is set forth in claim 7,further characterized in that said means coupling said motor to saiddrive shaft comprises belt means driving said shaft and pulley meansmounted on said rotatable coupling member guiding said belt means tosaid shaft as said shaft is carried around the fixed motor support.

9. In an irrigation system, the combination of an 1rrigation pipecomprising a plurality of pipe sections having apertures for sprayingwater therefrom to irrigate a field, a plurality of wheels supportingsaid irrigation pipe, said irrigation pipe forming an axle for saidwheels so that said wheels rotate around said pipe, means attached toone end of said pipe for coupling said pipe to a stationary water supplypipe, a drive shaft positioned along said irrigation pipe, meanssupporting said shaft, a driving motor, a member supporting said motor,means coupling said motor to said drive shaft, means coupled to saiddrive shaft for driving each of said pipe supporting wheels, and meansresponsive to the flexing of said irrigation pipe at selected ones ofsaid wheels, said last mentioned means including means controlling thedriving of said selected wheels to prevent excessive bending of saidirrigation pipe.

10. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1,further characterized in that said means supporting said drive shaftincludes means substantially in the centers of said wheels supportingsaid drive shaft.

1. In an irrigation system, the combination of an irrigation pipecomprising a plurality of pipe sections having apertures for sprayingwater therefrom to irrigate a field, a plurality of wheels supportingsaid irrigation pipe, said wheels being rotatably mounted on bearingsprovided to coupling means between adjacent ones of said pipe sections,means attached to one end of said pipe for coupling said pipe to astationary water supply pipe, a drive shaft positioned along saidirrigation pipe, means supporting said shaft on said irrigation pipe, adriving motor, a member supporting said motor, means coupling said motorto said drive shaft, means coupled to said drive shaft for driving eachof said pipe supporting wheels, and means responsive to the flexing ofsaid irrigation pipe at selected ones of said wheels, said lastmentioned means including means controlling the driving of said selectedwheels to prevent excessive bending of said irrigation pipe.
 2. In anirrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that each of said means controlling the driving of theselected wheels comprises a pulley rotatably mounted on said drive shaftand a clutch coupling said pulley to said drive so that said pulley isdriven by said drive shaft when said clutch is engaged, the engaging ofsaid clutch being controlled by said flex responsive means.
 3. In anirrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 2, furthercharacterized in that said clutch comprises a clutch plate attached tosaid pulley and a clutch member attached to said drive shaft andfriction means positioned between said plate and said clutch member tocause said clutch to grip when said plate is moved toward said clutchmember.
 4. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth inclaim 3, further characterized in that said flex responsive meanscomprises a linkage connecting said clutch plate to said irrigationpipe.
 5. In an irrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim1, further characterized in that said wheel bearings comprise circularsurfaces attached to said pipe coupling means, each of said pipecoupling means having one end thereof connected to a section of saidirrigation pipe by a flexible tubular member.
 6. In an irrigationsystem, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterizedin that said means controlling the driving of each of the selectedwheels comprises a clutch and a brake, said brake being actuated by saidflex responsive means when the selected wheel is moving the irrigationpipe too fast and said clutch being actuated by said flex responsivemeans to drive the selected wheel faster from said drive shaft when theselected wheel is moving the irrigation pipe too slowly.
 7. In anirrigation system, the combination as set forth in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that said means coupling said irrigation pipe to saidwater supply pipe comprises a rotatable coupling member encircling saidwater supply pipe, said stationary member supporting said motor abovesaid water supply pipe.
 8. In an irrigation system, the combination isset forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said means couplingsaid motor to said drive shaft comprises belt means driving said shaftand pulley means mounted on said rotatable coupling member guiding saidbelt means to said shaft as said shaft is carried around the fixed motorsupport.
 9. In an irrigation system, the combination of an irrigationpipe comprising a plurality of pipe sections having apertures forspraying water therefrom to irrigate a field, a plurality of wheelssupporting said irrigation pipe, said irrigation pipe forming an axlefor said wheels so that said wheels rotate around said pipe, meansattached to one end of said pipe for coupling said pipe to a stationarywater supply pipe, a drive shaft positioned along said irrigation pipe,means supporting said shaft, a driving motor, a member supporting saidmotor, means coupling said motor to said drive shaft, means coupled tosaid drive shaft for driving each of said pipe supporting wheels, andmeans responsive to the flexing of said irrigation pipe at selected onesof said wheels, said last mentioned means including means controllingthe driving of said selected wheels to prevent excessive bending of saidirrigation pipe.
 10. In an irrigation system, the combination as setforth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means supportingsaid drive shaft includes means substantially in the centers of saidwheels supporting said drive shaft.